PILSLEY STORM THEIR WAY ONTO A CUP RUN

PILSLEY COMMUNITY 6 DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE 0

RODEN CUP QUARTER FINAL AT RUPERT ST

6 NOVEMBER 2021 --- 2PM

GARETH LEWIN CELEBRATES THE FOURTH FOR PILSLEY V DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE

Pilsley came up with the ultimate answer to last weeks heavy loss to leaders Hayfield with a Roden Cup romp against Dronfield Woodhouse, with three goals in each half and a hat trick from Curtis Sharples.  It was just the response manager Andy Bird and the players wanted and after last seasons run all the way into the final in The Cliff Ellis Trophy they find themselves one game away from another prestigious final.

FIRST HALF ACTION PILSLEY COMMUNITY V DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE

So Saturday at Pilsley means umbrella as normal with showers forecast we knew the day would be associated with a blustery wind and as the ascent the mile from Lower Pilsey brought me to the summit of the border with Pilsley itself and the ground the wind was howling around.  The prospect of this afternoon trying to hold a brolly up with camera and notes did not fill me with inspiration but the performance put on by the home side certainly fortified my determination on what turned out to be an enjoyable game.

DANIEL CAUNT SETS OFF

After last seasons disruption the determination of The Hope Valley League to complete their competitions gave me the opportunity to cover Pilsley, at Tibshelf, for their quarter and semi final in The Cliff Ellis Trophy.  This season with their relegation to B Division they would enter The Roden Cup and with their being just eight clubs in the league, with a three times play policy, they are already at the quarter finals at first round stage but I wont tell anybody if you wont.

REFEREE OWEN ISSUES THE ONLY CARD OF THE GAME

For Dronfield Woodhouse they sit above Pilsley in the league and it looked like a tough game but with Pilsleys good results in October, save for the Hayfield games, the opportunity to progress looked a distinct possibility.  

Last week saw player manager 44 year old Andy Bird between the sticks due to injuries but this week Matthew Parnham returns for the goalkeepers jersey and the side looked nicely balanced with the experienced Gareth Lewin moving back into the centre of defence.

CURTIS SHARPLES RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS SECOND GOAL

As referee Glyn Owen blew for the start of play the drizzle commenced on cue with the opening exchanges very balanced Parnham was called on to make two sharp saves to deny the visitors while at the other end Sharples found himself through in a one on one with the Woodhouse keeper but he pulled his shot wide.  The first goal in this encounter looked to be an important factor and it fell to Community on eighteen minutes when a 25 yard free kick was curled goalwards by Shane Marriott the ball flew back off the bar for Rhys Wallhead to convert.  The lead was doubled just short of the half hour mark again Marriott whipped in a free kick which the visiting keeper couldn't hold and Sharples fired the ball over the Dronfield Woodhouse line with a defender handling the ball it looked like a penalty had been awarded but after a moments contemplation referee Owen awarded the goal deeming the ball to have crossed the line, also saving the visitors being reduced to ten men.

SHARPLES COMPLETES HIS HAT TRICK

Pilsley would reach the interval three goals to the good thanks to Sharples who found his second on thirty nine minutes a high defensive clearance from the home side created trouble in the swirling wide bypassing the visiting defender aerial attempt to clear and Sharples was on hand to run on and score confidently past the keeper.

Thankfully in the current conditions a quick turn round found the second half promptly underway but it wasn't long before the rain got sharper and the light started to fade sadly limiting todays photos quality.

Proceedings started encouragingly again for Pilsley when Harry Dudley saw his long range free kick well pushed over one handed by the Woodhouse number one, he was called into action shortly afterwards woth an impressive full length save this time.  

There was time for the encourager Lewin to get on the score sheet when he flicked the ball in at the near post from a left wing corner to make it four with eighteen minutes remaining.  Pilsley had the game wrapped up now and were enjoying their afternoon with Marriott now coming even more to the fore in his feeding of the attack.  The lead extended further thanks to Kian Barlow working from an inside right position and he fed across for Sharples to gather himself to fire into the visitors net to claim his hat trick with seven minutes remaining.

The icing was put on the cake with two minutes left when Pilsley reached half a dozen again Barlow turned unselfish provider when his weaving run allowed him to cross to the unmarked Dudley to crash the ball home.

MARRIOTT POINTS OUT HAT TRICK MAN SHARPLES

A real moral boosting win for Pilsley who looked a well balanced side this afternoon with the always impressive Marriott bringing out the best in a selection of players around him, with special mention to Lewin who had thrown himself in the way of most things for the home side and left the field of play shortly before the end after a knock had we not have all been standing he would have received a standing ovation he certainly gained the plaudits of his fellow team members.

The weekend will be sweet for Pilsley and their management team with a confident return back to league action next week and a cup semi final to look forward too as well

A HAND UP FOR GARETH LEWIN AFTER TREATMENT